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When Dak Prescott suffered a compound fracture in October, the fear was that the big payday he’d been seeking would become significantly smaller. The fears were put to rest on Monday when Prescott and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year contract worth $160 million, including $126 million in total guaranteed money.
The Cowboys were recently valued by Forbes at $5.7 billion, so they can certainly afford to pay Prescott. He’s now only the third quarterback with a deal worth $40 million per season - joining Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson.
In the case of Mahomes, the Chiefs have him for 10 years, while Prescott can walk after 2023.
Future Paydays for Prescott
This deal was done by Prescott and his willingness to play under the franchise tag last season instead of settling for a deal that took away his control and paid him less than he could get.
That control is the key factor. When this contract is completed, he will still only be 31. By then, the league will have signed a huge new television contract, the quarterback market will be reset several times over, and Prescott will be in line for another contract that will no doubt be even bigger.
Who knows, but if he can stay healthy, perhaps there will be yet another deal to sign when he’s in his mid-30s.
There is little question that when Prescott does decide to walk away from football in 10 years or so, he will be one of the richest players in the history of the sport. All because he took a chance on himself, and it paid off big time.
Wilson Fallout
When Russell Wilson named the four teams that he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause for, the Cowboys were the betting favorite to land him. Now that Dallas is off the table, online bookmakers have increased the odds that Wilson will stay in Seattle to -500.
The Bears are next in line to get Wilson, paying at +300. The Raiders are +1000, and the Saints are at +1200. While all these rumors are in the air, the Seahawks are now below both the Rams and the 49ers, at +225 odds to win the NFC West.
One of the teams that Wilson did not name is the Jets, but they’re still on the board at +700. Obviously, a change of heart from Wilson would be required for that to happen.
If Wilson were to be traded, the Seahawks would have to answer one very important question - who will be their quarterback?
A trade with the Bears wouldn’t net any quarterbacks, nor would it land a high enough draft pick for Seattle to take one of the top rookies in the draft. But no doubt Kahlil Mack’s name is involved in any talks between the two sides.
Derek Carr would be part of a package from the Raiders, but he would be a downgrade at quarterback for Seattle and not the long-term solution. The Saints only have the 28th pick in the first round to trade, which won’t land Seattle a new quarterback.
Which brings us back to the Jets, picking at No. 2.
